The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-28
The Duty Of the Democratic
Party.

The interview with Mr. Henry Wat
terson on national politics which we
print elsewhere should be carefully
read by the people. The New York
Herald says oditorially} 1t contains
the gist of the whole matter-a clean
cut and interesting review and fore
cast Of the situation.
He believes that in 1888 Mr.. Cleve-
land will be the nominee on the one
side and Mr.. Blaine on the other ;
that the campaign of the republicans
will be conducted on the basis OF the
bloody shirt once more and passion
ate appeal to the people, the object of
which will be to get the South and
North at loggerheads and to slip into
the White House during the quarrel !;
that the campaign of the democrats
will be conducted on the basis y of II
united country reaching from the
lakes to the Gulf, and on the necessity
Of tariff reform in some shape-a tar
if reform radical enough to stop the
inflow of a demoralizing surplus into
the already bursting vaults of the
Treasury, and la consequent relief to
the business interest of the country.
We congratulate ourselves that the
brilliant Kentucky editor and the Her
aid will fight in the same regiment
We have long been hammering at
this enormous and increasing surplus
as political crime. One hundred
and twenty-five millions distracted
from the people when the government
has no use forit is simply robbery under
form of law. The government not
only does not want the money, but is
seriously embarrassed by its possess
ion, The people do want it for the
proper conduct Of their business. I'm
less Congress at its next session shall
fairly and squareIy meet the issue and
devise some means by which this per-
ilous influx can be stopped our mer.
chants will begin to look with alarm to
their future.
Now, then, what can the democratic
party do? In the first place, its fac
tons must unite Its prospects are
good, and more than good, but the
price OF success is unity. 1t is well
equipped for national work, but its
leaders must stand shoulder to shoul-
der. Differences of opinion as to
methods must give way to a determi-
nation to accomplish the end. Its
aim should be to put itself before the
country on big and popular issue.
If that issue is the removal of the peo-
pies tax burden, an immediate reduc-
ton of the revenue in some shape or
other, it need have no fear of the re-
suit. The great body OF the people,
including large contingent of the re-
publicans, are more than satisfied
with the present democratic admins
i tration. 1t means caution, stability
and prosperity. And the great body
of the people, including a majority
of the republicans, are tired OF
this everlasting chatter about the
bloody shirt, with all that the words
imply. They are disguised with the
Tuttle threats OF violence and the
palsies of Fairchild. If, therefore, the
administration takes its position def
initively on the necessity of reducing
taxation, and the democratic party
backs it up by redeeming the pledges
it has already made, the Waterloo of
1888 will be reserved for "our friends
the enemy"
The democrats, if they have the grit
to face the music and the grace tc
make mutual concessions on the tariff
question will command the respect
and receive the votes of the people
But they must give up this futile
guerilla warfare and fight in one soliC
army corps, If they meet in caucus
resolved at any hazard to find some
ground of agreement, they can 60 t
the Fiftieth Congress and make q rec
ord II Mr. Randall or any one else il
inclined to kick unless he can hav,
his own way, let the party occup!
such a position that the kicker will b,
made conspicuous. II the people
want tariff reform, as they certainly
do, and it is clearly shown that they
can't have is because Mr.. Randall
makes an obstructive coalition witt
the republicans, it will not take then
long to make few plain and forcibil,
remarks, and every politician know
that when the people have the floor i
is necessary for him to sit down, lister
and thereafter govern himself accord
ingly.
And, as Mr.. Watterson says, whel
the democratic party has expressed al
honest and square determination by
Congressional vote to relieve the pee
pie Of their burdens, then let itexprss